Discharge Instructions for Open Splenectomy (Pediatric)

Your child had an open splenectomy. During the procedure, your child’s spleen was surgically removed because it wasn’t working correctly. The spleen is located in the upper left part of the belly. It helps protect the body from infection. To remove your child’s unhealthy spleen, the healthcare provider made a large cut (incision) in your child’s belly. Here’s what you need to know about caring for your child at home after surgery.

Incision care

Care for your child's incision includes the following:

• Check your child’s incision daily for redness, swelling, or separation of the skin.
• Let your child shower as needed. But don't let your child swim or sit in a bathtub or hot tub until the healthcare provider says it’s OK to do so. This helps prevent infection of the incision site.
• Keep your child’s incision clean and dry. Wash the incision gently with mild soap and warm water. Then gently pat the incision dry with a towel.
• Don't remove the white strips from your child’s incision. Let the strips fall off on their own. You may trim the edges if they start to peel.

Limit activity

Tips include:

• Show your child how to climb steps slowly and stop to rest every few steps. Limit stair climbing to once or twice a day.
• Don’t let your child lift anything heavier than 3 pounds (1.4 kg).  This is to prevent straining the incisions.
• Give your child a break from chores that take physical effort, such as vacuuming or mowing the lawn. Wait until the healthcare provider says it’s OK.

Other home care

Follow this general care advice for your child:

• Give your child pain medicines as directed by the healthcare provider.
• Have your child finish all of the antibiotics the healthcare provider prescribed, even if he or she feels better. Antibiotics help protect your child from infection.
• Check your child’s temperature every day for 1 week after the surgery.
• Get medical care even for mild illnesses such as colds or sinus problems. It’s important to do this because without a spleen, your child is more likely to get an infection.
• Tell all of your child’s healthcare providers—including the dentist—that your child does not have a spleen.
• Think about getting a medical identification bracelet for your child that says he or she does not have a spleen.
• Talk with your child's healthcare provider about vaccines. Your child will be more prone to infection after the surgery. Specifically, ask about pneumovax, meningococcal, haemophilus, and flu vaccines.
• If your child gets constipated, talk with the provider about a plan called a bowel regimen. Pain medicines can be constipating. More fiber, water, and a stool softener are often helpful.

Follow-up

Make a follow-up appointment as directed.

When to call your child’s healthcare provider

Call the healthcare provider right away if your child has any of the following:

• Fever (see "Fever in Children" below)
• Shaking chills
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Any abnormal bleeding
• Redness, swelling, warmth, fluid drainage or pain at the incision site
• Incision site that opens up or pulls apart
• Belly pain or vomiting

©  The StayWell Company, LLC. 800 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. This information has been modified by your health care provider with permission from the publisher.